Atiku demands apology to Onaiyekan, rejects Tinubu’s claims

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on Sunday launched a fresh attack on the President Bola Tinubu administration, accusing it of intolerance toward dissent and attempting to conceal Nigeria’s worsening economic realities through what he described as “statistical manipulation.” The ADC presidential candidate also condemned the Presidency’s criticism of former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, over his remarks on the state of the nation, demanding an immediate apology to the cleric and the Catholic Church. In a statement issued on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice president accused the Presidency of choosing political attacks over introspection following recent remarks by members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria on the state of the nation. According to Atiku, rather than addressing the concerns raised by the bishops, the Presidency resorted to intimidation and attempts to discredit respected religious leaders. “It was both unfortunate and dangerous that, instead of reflecting on the substance of the cleric’s message, the Presidency chose the familiar path of intimidation, ridicule and political attacks,” he said. Atiku described the Catholic Church as one of Nigeria’s enduring moral voices, noting that its leaders had consistently spoken in defence of the poor, vulnerable and oppressed, regardless of the government in power. “The Catholic Church has, for generations, stood as one of the moral voices of our nation. “Its bishops and priests have consistently spoken for the poor, the oppressed and the vulnerable, irrespective of who occupies Aso Rock. “Their duty is not to flatter those in power but to speak truth to power,” he stated. Commending the Catholic clerics for what he called their courage, Atiku said they had fulfilled their moral responsibility by openly expressing concerns about the country’s economic and political situation. “The Catholic bishops demonstrated rare courage by looking the president in the face and telling him the bitter truth about the state of the nation. “That is precisely what patriotic religious leaders are called to do, not to decorate power with praise, but to confront it with truth. “We urge other religious leaders, regardless of denomination or faith, to emulate this example by speaking truth to power whenever the nation’s interest demands it,” he added. Atiku also defended Cardinal Onaiyekan’s decision to grant an interview after the meeting, arguing that the cleric merely sought to place the facts before Nigerians following what he described as the Presidency’s attempt to control the narrative. “Cardinal Onaiyekan’s decision to speak to the press after the Presidency sought to dominate and distort the public conversation was nothing more than an effort to place the facts on record. “Such a responsible act cannot justify the vile, uncouth and disrespectful reaction that followed from Tinubu’s media handlers,” he said. He accused the Presidency of attempting to undermine the credibility of the Catholic bishops by selectively presenting their engagement with the President. “What the media managers of the Tinubu administration attempted to do was to cancel and overwrite the voices of the revered Catholic bishops by selectively editing and reframing their engagement with the President to manufacture a narrative favourable to the government. “That cynical exercise amounted to an affront to the integrity, credibility and moral authority of the bishops,” he stated. He further criticised what he described as the government’s intolerance of independent voices, warning that democracy cannot flourish where citizens, religious leaders and civil society organisations are attacked for expressing contrary views. “The Presidency is not a secret cult where only approved voices are permitted to speak. In a constitutional democracy, no one needs the permission of Aso Rock to tell the truth about the state of the nation,” he noted. In a pointed reference to the controversy surrounding clerics who attended President Tinubu’s inauguration in 2023, Atiku said the administration appeared to believe that all religious leaders could be enlisted for political purposes. “Perhaps the Presidency has become so accustomed to inviting ‘fake bishops’ that it now assumes every cleric can be recruited into political propaganda. “But Catholic bishops are different. They are not political props, rented cheerleaders or praise singers. They are shepherds with a moral obligation to speak truth to power, regardless of whose interests are bruised. They cannot be used,” he declared. According to Atiku, attacking respected clerics would neither erase the economic challenges facing Nigerians nor absolve the government of responsibility for the hardship experienced across the country. “The cleric merely gave voice to what millions of Nigerians discuss daily in their homes, markets, churches and workplaces. “Silencing or attacking him will not erase the harsh realities of hunger, insecurity, rising poverty, unemployment and the unprecedented cost-of-living crisis confronting ordinary citizens,” he said. The Wazirin Adamawa called on the Presidency to apologise to Cardinal Onaiyekan, the Catholic Church and millions of Catholic faithful across the country. “The Presidency owes the Catholic Church, Cardinal John Onaiyekan and the entire Catholic faithful an immediate and unreserved apology. “The reckless assault on respected men of God was not merely an attack on individuals; it was an affront to one of Nigeria’s most credible moral institutions and an insult to millions of faithful Catholics. “Until that apology is offered, the Tinubu administration will continue to stand accused of arrogance, intolerance and contempt for every independent voice that refuses to sing its praises,” he stated. Related News NRS releases guidelines on virtual assets taxation Cyberbullying: Sowore’s trial stalled as SANs clash in court Economic hardship: Atiku rejects presidency’s defense of Tinubu reforms Atiku also launched a scathing attack on the government, insisting that “no amount of lying with statistics” can shield the administration from what he described as its worsening economic record. He accused the administration of attempting to rewrite Nigeria’s economic realities through what he called “creative accounting” and polished public presentations, maintaining that the daily hardship confronting Nigerians tells a completely different story. In another statement on Sunday, Atiku dismissed recent comments by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, who had defended the administration’s economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy, debt management strategy and workers’ welfare initiatives. According to Atiku, the government’s explanation that savings from the removal of fuel subsidy were being deployed to reduce inherited liabilities was inconsistent with publicly available financial records. He argued that rather than reducing indebtedness to the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Tinubu administration had significantly expanded it. “As of May 2023, when President Tinubu assumed office, the Federal Government’s exposure to the Central Bank of Nigeria stood at approximately N26.9tn. Today, that exposure has ballooned to over N40.38tn. “This administration has not reduced its indebtedness to the CBN. It has merely changed the label on the debt by converting Ways and Means advances into treasury bills and bonds while simultaneously piling up fresh obligations. That is debt restructuring, not debt repayment,” the statement read. Citing recent figures disclosed by CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso, Atiku said government borrowing from the apex bank increased by N17.39tn between May 2025 and May 2026, representing a 77.6 per cent rise. “This destroys the narrative that subsidy savings are being used to reduce government indebtedness. Nigerians deserve honesty, not creative accounting,” he stated. The former vice president also challenged the administration’s claim that subsidy savings had translated into improved welfare for Nigerian workers. He maintained that key components of the new wage package remained outstanding despite official commitments. “Which salary increase is the government talking about? The Federal Government is yet to fully implement the new minimum wage. The 40 per cent peculiar allowance tied to the wage adjustment remains unpaid despite official directives that it should take effect from May 1, 2026. “The promised wage award has equally not been fully implemented. These are not opposition allegations; they are the grievances of organised labour,” he added. On education financing, Atiku questioned the government’s assertion that proceeds from subsidy removal were funding the Nigerian Education Loan Fund. He noted that the agency’s management had publicly stated that it received a N50bn injection from funds recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. “The Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND publicly stated that the scheme received a N50bn injection from recovered funds by the EFCC. “If that is the case, why is the government now presenting subsidy savings as the source? Nigerians are tired of an administration that changes its story each time it is confronted with facts,” he added. The ADC chieftain further blamed the government’s economic policies for soaring borrowing costs, arguing that the sharp increase in the Monetary Policy Rate had made credit increasingly unaffordable for businesses while worsening the country’s debt servicing burden. “Who drove interest rates to their current levels? Under this administration, the Monetary Policy Rate has climbed dramatically, making borrowing prohibitively expensive for manufacturers and the private sector. “Government’s insatiable appetite for borrowing has crowded out productive businesses while pushing debt servicing to unsustainable levels. “To now blame interest rates is nothing short of an admission of policy failure,” he stated. The former vice president said government officials were relying on statistical presentations that bear little resemblance to the realities experienced by ordinary Nigerians. “Food prices have spiralled beyond the reach of ordinary families. Inflation continues to erode incomes. Businesses are shutting down. Unemployment remains alarming. “The naira has suffered unprecedented depreciation, while poverty has deepened across the country. These are the realities Nigerians confront daily, not the glossy presentations from government officials,” he said. Declaring that the administration’s performance should be judged by its impact on citizens rather than official data, Atiku insisted that Nigerians had already reached their verdict. “Governments are judged not by PowerPoint presentations or television interviews but by the quality of life of their citizens. “On that score, this administration has failed spectacularly. Economic hardship cannot be explained away with clever rhetoric. Nigerians are living the consequences every day,” he added. He urged government officials to abandon what he described as media spin and instead confront Nigeria’s economic challenges with sincerity, competence and accountability. While the Federal Government maintains that the reforms are necessary to stabilise public finances, attract investment and place the economy on a sustainable path, critics argue that they have triggered soaring inflation, sharp increases in the cost of living and declining purchasing power for millions of Nigerians. The debate has intensified in recent weeks as government officials continue to defend the reforms amid persistent public concern over rising food prices, exchange rate volatility and the broader cost-of-living crisis. Dirisu Yakubu Dirisu Yakubu is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over a decade of experience covering parliament, politics, and development issues. He specializes in reporting that provides context and insight into legislative and governance matters. Dirisu’s work reflects extensive newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate and impactful journalism.